Loading apparatus for transport vehicles

ABSTRACT

A vehicular loading and unloading apparatus, for example for handling container traffic, comprises two loading appliances, one fore and one aft of the vehicle, each comprising at least one quadrilateral lever and linkage system with a power unit to extend and contract it. There are preferably two such systems arranged end to end in each appliance, this giving a large operating range allied with a compact collapsed structure.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,774,789 51 Nov. 27, 1973 Klaus et al.

[54] LOADING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT 3,513,997 5/1970 Heyer et al.214/77 R VEHICLES 3,515,295 6/1970 Klaus 214/77 R 3,298,539 1/1967Sundstrom.. 212/35 R [76] Invent rs: Kaspa Klau Illerstrasse 3,010,59011/1961 Troth 214 77 R Memmingen; Georg Felkel, 7951 kh b th f G Ber 0 Oermany Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar [22] Fil d Jam 10, 1972Attorney-Holman & Stern [21] Appl. No.: 216,661

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A h l 1 d d l d fve ICU ar 0a mg an un 0a mg apparatus, or ex- Dec. 8, 1971 Germany P 2161 033.3 ample for handling container traffic, comprises two U S Cl214/77 R 212/8 R loading appliances, one fore and one aft of the vehi-[51] In.t.Cl B,60 U48 3 a h Br s g a Egg B9 qqgg fl r p a w [58] Fie'ldR and linkage system with a power unit to extend and 3 5 R 35 8 contractit. There are preferably two such systems arranged end to end in eachappliance, this giving a [56] References Cited large operating rangeallied with a compact collapsed structure.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures LOADING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT VEHICLESThis invention relates to loading apparatus, for example with hydraulicoperation, for loading and unloading at least a substantial part of theload on a transport vehicle in a single action.

The types of loading apparatus with which the inven- .tion is concernedare those used more especially for the function of taking up the load atone specific site and disposing it on the vehicle carrying the apparatusor transferring it to another vehicle. The loading apparatus, along withthe vehicle, therefore has to perform the two duties both of .atransporting vehicle and also a loading contrivance. Frequently there isthe additional requirement that the whole assembly shall be capable ofroad travel. 1

It is particularly important in this connection that the loadingoperation shall be performed quickly and easily, and as a general rulethis can only be implemented if the loading apparatus has a. workingrange which will extend over both sides of the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to improve loading apparatus of thiskind.

It is a further object of the invention to devise the apparatus in sucha way that the working range shall be identical or symmetrical, entirelyor to a major extent, at the sides of the vertical. A further object ofthe invention is to acquire a large working range both vertically andhorizontally. A furtherand important object is to provide an apparatuswhich will be able to lift loads to such a height that these loads canbe stacked on one another, perhaps a plurality of times, or even carriedover loads which have already been deposited on the vehicle or adjacentthe same.

To this end we prescribe an apparatus for the purpose described of thekind comprising two loading appliances disposed one fore and one aft ofthe position of a load on the transport vehicle, each of said loadingappliances having a working range extending over each of the two sidesof the vehicle, and in an apparatus of this kind we present theimprovement wherein each said loading appliance includes at least oneoperating system comprising four intercoupled links and two indpendentlyoperable driving means for moving the same, the said intercoupled linkscomprising two inner links and two outer links which are pivotallyconnected together at their outer ends, said outer pair of links beingcarried and operated by the inner pair of links, and the mountings ofthe inner links being disposed adjacent one another. 7

In particular the arrangement presented by this invention in which theinner links are close to oneanother affords the possiblity of combininglarge sized links with the possibility of collapsing them into a compactspace. Long links confer the benefit of a large working zone and thefacility for collapsing them in a small and compact area is againappropriate if the re. quirement for transport and travel is tobecatered for as, for example, when the vehicle is to travel along a road.

In a very advantageous form of the invention two operating systems ofthe type indicated are combined in such a way that one such system, viz.an outer one, shall be supported by an inner-operating system. It hasbeen found that the facility for collapsing an operating system which isof link and lever form permits more than one such system to be used butnevertheless the whole to be collapsible into a compact assembly.

The driving means, which may for example advantageously consist ofhydraulic piston/cylinder units, will advantageously be mounted andsupported at the central part of the ,vehicle, in which event the twocylinder units of an operating system may share a common support pointor be supported at points which are only a small spacingfrom oneanother.

Other features of the invention are disclosed hereafter in the ensuingdescription of preferred embodiments, and in the accompanying claims.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:'

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a'transport vehiclehaving'aloading device in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view on a larger scale of the vehicleillustrated in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an end view of the vehicle of FIGS. 1 and FIG. 4 is afragmentary side view of a part of a modified form of loading apparatusin accordance with the invention, and

FIG. 5 is an end view corresponding to FIG. 3 but showing the loadingapparatus in performance of a loading operation.

The vehicle 16 depicted in FIG. 1 is a four-axial truck and 'isparticularly intended for transshipment of loads in railroad stations orfor other purposes. This vehicle,

the four axles of which are coupled, can also be used as a roadtransport vehicle. The construction of vehicle 16 is substantiallysymmetrical. It has two operators platforms 20, one at each end.

FIG. 1 shows the vehicle carrying its load, for example a container 32.A loading frame 28, preferably of variable effective length, is used forthe loading operation. This frame 28, or socalled spreader, eitherengages appropriate abutment means at the upper end of container 32and/or engages this load at the bottom through draw elements or othermeans. The provisions for varying the effective length is of importancein that it enables loads of differing lengths to be handled, to whichend the loading appliances (described in more detail below) are ofvariable spacing, and in particular can be displaced to vary thedistance between them.

Particular reference will now be made to FIG. 5, which shows the loadingapparatus in operation, because this best illustrates the individualparts.

Disposed at the front, and to the rear, of a load 32 on vehicle 16 thereis in each case a displaceable frame 33 which is generally in the formof an A, i.e. has the general shape of an equilateral triangle. Thisframe supports a hoisting gear comprising two intercoupled operatingsystems of lever and linkage form. The first of these systems comprisestwo inner links 1 and 2 which are pivoted to frame 33 at 13, and twoouter links 3 and 4 pivoted to the inner links 1 and 2. The pivotsbetween the links 1 and 3 and the links 2 and 4 are designated 17 and 18respectively. This first operating system is actuated by piston/cylinderunits 9,10. Coupled to this first and inner operating system l,2,3,4through a pivot 14 is a second system which basically comprises links5,6,7 and 8. The outerlinks 7 and 8 of this second sys tem are pivotedat 29 and here are provided with means (not shown) for connection to theload. Further piston/cylinder units 11 and 12 are used to operate thesecond and outer system.

If, starting from the position of the parts illustrated in FIG. 5, it isassumed that unit is operated to displace the piston therein andcylinder 9 is not operated, the result will be that pivot 14 willtranscribe the path illustrated by the chain dotted line 34. If to thisis added the potential movement of the'outer lever and linkage system,it will be found that the load connection point 29 can transcribe arange defined by the chain dotted line 35. It will be observed that thiswill take it a substantial difi'erence laterally of the vehicle and thatloads can therefore be picked up at a distance from the latter. Furtherit is possible to stack loads or to transfer them over a load which hasalready been deposited on vehicle 16.

Strut-forming legs 19 are provided to increase the stability of thevehicle and the loading apparatus during a loading or unloadingoperation. These legs 19 are movable in guides in the frame 33 whichencompasses the corresponding platform 20. The legs 19 may for examplebe telescopic so as to be projectible and retractible and the feetthereof may be such as to enable the distance of the ground supportpoint from the vehicle to be varied.

FIG. 3 shows the operating lever arid linkage systems in a collapsedcondition and from this it will be apparent that the respective pairs oflinks have an inverted chevron form, and that these chevrons arearranged one above another with the corresponding sets of links more orless parallel. In this condition the lowermost pair of links 1 and 2define between them a utility area which accommodates the frame 33 andplatform 20. It will also be observed that the collapsed links do notproject above the load at any point.

In view of the substantial hoisting height (see FIG. 5)

it is feasible to attach frames 28 to the load connection point 29 bydraw means 30, which has the further advantage that the loading framesor spreader 28 can be deposited on the vehicle surface 31 for travelpurposes, as has been indicated by chain dotted lines 36 in FIG. 2. Inthe embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the two operating systemsare so devised and arranged that they virtually rest on one another inthe collapsed condition. This arrangement is not however, essential.

FIG. 4 shows that a tandem arrangement of inner operating systems 21 and22 can be used, these together carrying a third and outer operatingsystem 23 which can be swung down between them in the travel condition.FIG. 2 shows a modification in which both the inner and the outersystems are duplicated, one pair 25, nearest the load 23, being of morerobust dimensions than the other pair 24. The driving means 26,27 ofthese pairs of systems are advantageously disposed in the space betweenthe two systems and thereby protected. The contrasting dimensions in thearrangement of FIG. 2 takes care of the different loading of the twosystems.

From the foregoing description of the invention it is clearly apparentthat it is of advantage for the pivotal axis 13 of links 1 and 2 to bedisposed at a comparatively high level. In the first place thisincreases the operating height, and on the other hand it has theattribute that when the parts are in the collapsed condition (FIG. 3),the space made available between the outer limit dimensions, for exampleto comply with road travel provisions, is very well utilised.

Preferably the individual lever and linkage operating systems are sodevised that they can fold within one another when they are in thetravelling condition, as for instance is seen in FIG. 4. IIowever, evenwhen in operat'ing condition (FIG. 5), it is possible to provide anarrangement which permits the individual parts, for example the innerand the outer systems, and even the various links, to overlap oneanother by offsetting one relatively to another. They can then forexample overlap one within the other or even swing past one another. Thesame applies to links'7 and 8. This arrangement enables the pathtranscribed by the load suspension point 29 to be enlarged.

If a comparison is made between FIGS. 3 and 5 it will be observed thatthe active ambit of the legs 19 and the operating systems are spatiallyentirely separate from one another. This has the advantage that the legsand the loading apparatus can be used completely independently of oneanother. In the case of lighter loads for instance, there may be no needto project the legs at all.

The construction of loading apparatus illustrated is of a notinconsiderable weight. This fact, however, even has advantages. Thus,for example, in the position of the parts illustrated in FIG. 5 aconsiderable proportion of the inner operating system and the associateddriving means acts as a counterweight for the outer system. There isthus a high degree of stability, which is very desirable.

It is to be noted that the need to connect the links to one another isnot only catered for by, for example, using pivots as depicted at 17, 18or 13 in the drawing, but the use of intermediate elements between theends of the individual links is not excluded as a means for engagementbetween them.

It is to be pointed out that the various instrumentalitiesdescribedabove and devised in accordance with the invention are capableof use not only in combination, but also individually with advantage.

We claim 1. In an apparatus for loading and unloading at least asubstantial part of a load on a transport vehicle in a single operation,said apparatus comprising two loading appliances mounted one fore andone aft of the position of a load on the load-bearing frame of saidtransport vehicle in the direction of movement of the vehicle, and eachof said loading appliances having a working range extending over each ofthe two sides of the vehicle, the improvement wherein each said loadingappliance includes at least one operating system comprising fourintercoupled links and two independently operable driving means formoving the same, the said intercoupled links comprising two inner linksand two outer links with the outer links being pivotally connectedtogether at their outer ends, load-engaging means attached to thepivotally connected outer ends of the outer links, each of said outerlinks having its inner end pivotally connected to the outer end of arespective inner link, so that each inner link is connected to adifi'erent outer link, and the inner links having their inner endspivotally connected to each other and to the vehicle, one of saiddriving means being pivotally mounted between said vehicle and each ofthe outer ends of the inner links.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each loading appliancecomprises two said operating systems adjoining one another andinterconnected, the outer links of a first operating system mounted onthe vehicle being connectedto and supporting the inner links of a secondand outer operating system in the vicinity of the coupling point betweensaid inner links.

3. A loading apparatus according to claim 2, in which said outeroperating system has its own independent driving means and said drivingmeans are mounted on said outer links of said first operating system.

4. A loading apparatus according to claim 3, in which each saidoperating system comprises four links arranged as a quadrilateral, thetwo inner links of each said system having a common pivot.

5. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, in which said two drivingmeans are mounted on the vehicle at points which are adjacent to oneanother in a position below the level of the point of attachment of theinner links to the vehicle.

6. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, in which the said two innerlinks are coupled together and pivotally mounted on said vehicle at araised support point, whereby said operating system can be collapsedinto a condition in which the pivotal connection of said two outer linkslies closely above the pivotal mounting of said two inner links on thevehicle, and in which the pivotal connections of the two inner linkswith the respective two outer links are disposed below said pivotalmounting of said two inner links.

7. A loading apparatus according to claim 6, in which each loadingappliance comprises two said operating systems adjoining one another andinterconnected, the outer links of a first operating system mounted onthe vehicle being. connected to and supporting the inner links of asecond and outer operating system in the vicinity of the coupling pointbetween said inner links, said operating systems being collapsible intoa situation in which the links of said outer operating system aredisposed substantially parallel to the corresponding links of said inneroperating system.

8. A loading apparatus according to claim 7, in which in the collapsedcondition the links are disposed in inverted chevron form and the lowerchevron represented by the inner pair of links of the inner operatingsystem define between them a utility area, and in which a pair ofdivergent support legs are disposed in this utility area.

9. A loading apparatus according to claim 8, in which said support legsare projectible and retractible, and in which an operators platform isdisposed between them in said vehicle.

10. A loading apparatus accordingly to claim 1, wherein each loadingappliance comprises two said operating systems arranged in tandem on thevehicle, and a third said operating system arranged between theaforesaid two systems and supported thereby, the pivotal connectionbetween the two inner links of said third system being carried by acommon pivotal connection between the outer pairs of links of said twofirst-mentioned operating systems.

1 1. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising aspreader of variable length extending longitudinally of said vehiclebetween said loading appliances for lifting engagement with a load onthe vehicle, and draw means for connecting said spreader to said liftingappliances, whereby this spreader can be lowered on to the body of thevehicle when not in use.

1. In an apparatus for loading and unloading at least a substantial partof a load on a transport vehicle in a single operation, said apparatuscomprising two loading appliances mounted one fore and one aft of theposition of a load on the load-bearing frame of said transport vehiclein the direction of movement of the vehicle, and each of said loadingappliances having a working range extending over each of the two sidesof the vehicle, the improvement wherein each said loading applianceincludes at least one operating system comprising four intercoupledlinks and two independently operable driving means for moving the same,the said intercoupled links comprising two inner links and two outerlinks with the outer links being pivotally connected together at theirouter ends, load-engaging means attached to the pivotally connectedouter ends of the outer links, each of said outer links having its innerend pivotally connected to the outer end of a respective inner link, sothat each inner link is connected to a different outer link, and theinner links having their inner ends pivotally connected to each otherand to the vehicle, one of said driving means being pivotally mountedbetween said vehicle and each of the outer ends of the inner links. 2.Apparatus according to claim 1, in which each loading appliancecomprises two said operating systems adjoining one another andinterconnected, the outer links of a first operating system mounted onthe vehicle being connected to and supporting the inner links of asecond and outer operating system in the vicinity of the coupling pointbetween said inner links.
 3. A loading apparatus according to claim 2,in which said outer operating system has its own independent drivingmeans and said driving means are mounted on said outer links of saidfirst operating system.
 4. A loading apparatus according to claim 3, inwhich each said operating system comprises four links arranged as aquadrilateral, the two inner links of each said system having a commonpivot.
 5. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, in which said twodriving means are mounted on the vehicle at points which are adjacent toone another in a position below the level of the point of attachment ofthe inner links to the vehicle.
 6. A loading apparatus according toclaim 1, in which the said two inner links are coupled together andpivotally mounted on said vehicle at a raised support point, wherebysaid operating system can be collapsEd into a condition in which thepivotal connection of said two outer links lies closely above thepivotal mounting of said two inner links on the vehicle, and in whichthe pivotal connections of the two inner links with the respective twoouter links are disposed below said pivotal mounting of said two innerlinks.
 7. A loading apparatus according to claim 6, in which eachloading appliance comprises two said operating systems adjoining oneanother and interconnected, the outer links of a first operating systemmounted on the vehicle being connected to and supporting the inner linksof a second and outer operating system in the vicinity of the couplingpoint between said inner links, said operating systems being collapsibleinto a situation in which the links of said outer operating system aredisposed substantially parallel to the corresponding links of said inneroperating system.
 8. A loading apparatus according to claim 7, in whichin the collapsed condition the links are disposed in inverted chevronform and the lower chevron represented by the inner pair of links of theinner operating system define between them a utility area, and in whicha pair of divergent support legs are disposed in this utility area.
 9. Aloading apparatus according to claim 8, in which said support legs areprojectible and retractible, and in which an operator''s platform isdisposed between them in said vehicle.
 10. A loading apparatusaccordingly to claim 1, wherein each loading appliance comprises twosaid operating systems arranged in tandem on the vehicle, and a thirdsaid operating system arranged between the aforesaid two systems andsupported thereby, the pivotal connection between the two inner links ofsaid third system being carried by a common pivotal connection betweenthe outer pairs of links of said two first-mentioned operating systems.11. A loading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising aspreader of variable length extending longitudinally of said vehiclebetween said loading appliances for lifting engagement with a load onthe vehicle, and draw means for connecting said spreader to said liftingappliances, whereby this spreader can be lowered on to the body of thevehicle when not in use.